What are you doing NEW to payoff debt?

[my4littlebuffaloes]

I want to pay off our van this year. That means finding more money somewhere. I m curious what other new things people are doing this year to pay down their debt.

[itlw8]

my income is up at least for now so I am hitting debt hard with the extra

but as far as new I will be starting more of my garden plants we bought 2 grow lights last year so I won't have that expense to cancel out the savings.

Instead of starting new projects we are finishing things started many of those we have materials for so free

We are doing better planning and eating from the freezer.

I have a habit of buying things at garage sales, estate sales and auctions that may be a good deal but I could live without so I will avoid those

I am also cooking ahead and freezing quick meals

[frugal is fun]

My new thing is going back to my old thing, which is just to pay it off. I have a few hundred dollars on a credit card from Christmas and a few hundred on a second card for heating oil. I have been paying $100 on each card each month. I have the money in EF so I'm going to just pay it off. Granted I'm going to take a hit to my EF but then I am taking my credit cards out of my wallet (thinking about freezing them) and hopefully my EF will build itself back up.

Doing it this way my EF is going to be lower than my comfort level but I just got news that my job is not as secure as I had thought so I am planning on saving every freakin penny I can. Worse case I'll be prepared, best case I'll have a very nice EF fund.

[mombottoo]

My new thing will be to use the money we are saving on his script premiums to pay medical copays...a win, win for us because it will free up the funds we usually use to pay medical expenses with. That money will be added to our savings account & investments.

[Preston]

I started gambling again. I know I shouldn't as I've had issues in the past so I'm stopping where I'm at. It pulled in another $1200 but like I said too much risk and don't do it. It's nice to have the extra money but I know if I continue my addiction will come back.

I've also started doing arbitron ratings surveys, and some other things involved with that. I just did 22 applications for part time restaurant/pizza delivery work.

It sucks though, they're cutting hours at work so we will be taking about a 5% salary hit this year. Ugh.

[vickilynn]

We are making some drastic changes for us, next month no internet, no land line and no trash pick up. And attacking the grocery budget working to bring it down down down

[Preston]

We are making some drastic changes for us, next month no internet, no land line and no trash pick up. And attacking the grocery budget working to bring it down down down

wow. That's a lot of change.

My suggestion is to keep the internet or see if you can set up a wireless network with your neighbor and split the cost. If you have a good neighbor, they're all up for it. Or downgrade your package. We had high spped for $50/month for a long time only to realize we didn't need it. I got the middle-of-the-road package for $30/month and it gets the job done just fine. We are still able to do netflix and download videos and RARELY is there any choppiness.

We live without trash service and it can be a real chore -- especially when we have company and someone gets the great idea to order pizza. What we have been doing is being very conscious of what we are buying and the container it comes in. We take the recyclables separate. Our hardest part has been cat litter. But I am usually able to drop those off in the trash can at the gas station when we get gas. May or may not be ethical but they are there for customer use and I am a paying customer.

But saving the $25 a month has freed up space in the budget for us to have internet.

Another bizarre thing is we switched our diets to organic -- it may seem more expensive to the naked eye but the organic foods fill us better so we eat less. Our grocery budget went from $200 to $250 to prepare for the higher costs, but we always went above the $200. Now that we're on organic this month We've spent a total of $72 for groceries and that may last us to the end of the month.

[frugalwarrior2]

Couponing even harder than I was.

[Dutchie]

We're changing a few things.

Firstly we are being VERY strict with ourselves - if it isn't in the budget, it doesn't happen.

Secondly, instead of waiting to see if there is anything left over at the end of the month to pay off debt, we 'pay ourselves first' and then work with what there is to deal with the rest of the month.

Thirdly, one of our kids who still lives at home has finished his schooling, has earned his degree and works full time. He has never had to pay anything towards his upkeep. We have said to him that from Jan 1st, we would like him to pay a small amount for this. In the first instance he looked surprised but then agreed. This amount that he pays goes straight into our debt.

And fourthly and the the one which has made a couple of our kids a little upset with us, is the fact that they have to pay for their own haircuts. Let me explain. For the last 15 years we have had a hairdresser who comes to our home every 6 weeks. We have always paid for this. However dh and I came to the realization that three of our kids have finished their schooling, got their degrees (paid for by us) and that 2 of these kids have moved out and work full time now and we are still paying for their haircuts. STUPID!!!!
So we have now told them that if they want to come for their hair then they are more than welcome but they have to pay for it themselves. When you consider that our hairdresser only charges about 1/2 what a salon charges for a haircut then they have agreed but a couple of them are not happy about it. I told them that they are welcome to go to the salon when they need a haircut, that there's no pressure to come here.
The money that we would normally pay for the hairdresser for them goes straight into our debt.

OK, these things are not world changing but they make a little difference and every little helps.

[joyofsix]

~*Staying out of the thrift stores! Only going if I have a specific need. (I have to admit I hate knowing I'm missing some deals.)

~*Use the drying racks faithfully. I've always used them but not for every little thing. I need to adjust to the fact my house looks like an Italian village on wash day.

~*Make a special effort to have a nice meal/walk/video something with dh so he doesn't feel deprived of fun. He tends to sort of go for awhile and then blow money because he feels deprived. Or thinks the kids do. So...

~*Make a special effort to have facsimiles of popular treats in the house. I have these recipes, just find it easier to tell them to go pop some popcorn. ex. granola bars, jello squares vs gummies, homemade tortilla chips, etc

[sinopa27]

I cut off the satellite. I stopped the extra deductions from my check. Paying my tithes faithfully. Working overtime. cutting back on spending. I plan to pay off my suv this year.

[vickilynn]

joyofsix ~*Use the drying racks faithfully. I've always used them but not for every little thing. I need to adjust to the fact my house looks like an Italian village on wash day. too funny - but I follow the fly lady "a load a day keeps mount washmore away" So I have a large folding hanger I keep in the guest room....

Preston wow. That's a lot of change. My suggestion is to keep the internet or see if you can set up a wireless network with your neighbor and split the cost. Yeah the internet is more than just a $ problem it's a time problem, see here I set while I should be doing the dishes.

[lparker]

I'm looking at my stuff to see what I can sell. Yesterday, it was a fiddle for $150, today was some beer brewing equipment $150. Going to pay off my Shell gas card next month. Anyone need a didjeridu?????

[joyofsix]

Anyone need a didjeridu?????

ROFL Where does one even get a didjeridu to start with?

[lparker]

I make them from agave flower stalks....been duing it for 15 years.